What infection is common amongst alcoholics who have B and thiamine deficiencies? If the patient does have an infection, what is usually prescribed to fight it off?

Pneumonitis

Antibiotics

What kind of diet would a typical alcoholic patient have? Why?

High carbohydrate diet to replace alcohol which is also high in carbohydrates.

What drug is commonly used to treat opioid overdose?

Naloxone (Narcan)

What happens if too much naloxone is given?

Patient can go into withdrawal

What three drugs are used in assisting opioid withdrawal patients

Methadone

Buprenorphine

Clonidine

Which opioid assistive drug counteract some of the autonomic effects of withdrawal such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and elevated BP and P?

Clonidine

Why is methadone an excellent opioid assistive drug?

Patient experiences little ot no withdrawal effects under treatment.

What is the social problem with methadone?

Methadone is only prescribed a little at a time and can only be given during visitations. Patients would have to visit the clinic everday to ensure they get their opioid treatment, which makes their social life very difficult.

What are some common names of buprenorphine?

Subutex

Suboxone

What advantage does buprenorphine have over methadone?

Less addictive

Safer

What is the main social disadvantage patients have with buprenorphine.

Buprenorphine has to be monitored and adminstered by a physician, and, most of the time, patients on buprenorphine are drug addicts. Most physicians do not want to work with drug addicts, thus making it difficult to get treatment.

When is the best time to start buprenorphine treatment?

When a patient starts undergoing early withdrawal. If it occurs before then, patient can go into total withdrawal, thus making it more difficult for the patient.